What a load of rubbish!

It’s also something the vast majority of us come across every day of our lives – especially for our team at ESF!

A bin is a bin though, it collects rubbish, it’s emptied and we go about our daily business, yes? Not quite.

Bins no longer only signify an object that we ‘deposit rubbish’ in. Bins now have the ability to encourage recycling and shape our urban environments. As a sign of the changing times we’re in and thanks to the advancements of modern technology, bins, just like our phones, our benches and our cities, are becoming ‘Smart’.

But what exactly do we mean by ‘Smart’ Bins?

Smart Bins represent a different type of waste system; one that contains various technological features which, using wireless connectivity, relay important messages to an alternative source.

Smart Bins include sensors that have the ability to tell when the bin has reached maximum capacity. Once this capacity has been reached, a message is relayed to the owner who can then organise for the bin to be emptied.

In some instances, Smart Bins known can self-compact its internal waste, increasing the overall capacity of the unit by eight times.

This simple procedure can help increase the efficiency of an organisation, such as waste management services or local councils. One organisation that introduced the Smart Bin was Darlington Borough Council.

Following the installation of ten Smart Bins in their district, the Council reported an 98% efficiency rating. The Smart Bin was able to communicate a message to the collection team to alert them when the bins needed emptying which meant the Street Cleansing team were able to miss those bins on their collection round, spending time better in other street cleansing services.

Thermostats can also be installed in Smart Bins which, once a certain temperature is reached, or if there is a sudden spike within the bin, is activated. The internal fire extinguisher is then released, preventing the development of a fire within the unit.

The risk of vandalism can also be reduced through the installation of Smart Bins. Using motion sensors, the bin sends a message if the unit is moved or shaken suddenly.

All the above advancements highlight how the simplest processes are being intertwined in the ‘Internet of Things’, made up of devices, from simple sensors to smartphones and wearables, connected together.

ESF is proud to be at the forefront of innovative technology, working with industry experts to introduce ‘Smart’ features into many of our products. With some exciting plans in place for our company, we’re looking forward to seeing how Smart technology progresses.